US4413604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel blending installation
Assignee: STAR ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS Ltd
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Filing: 1981-09-30
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2001-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A blending installation is described in which the grade of fuel is adjusted to enable an engine to use the most economical grade of fuel at any time. A circuit is connected to two reservoirs containing different grades of fuel. The fuel is constantly circulated by a pump in the circuit and fed to the engine. A pump meters the appropriate quantity of the higher grade fuel into the circuit and the balance of lower grade fuel is supplied by gravity feed into the circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Herbert E. Tune
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:47
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M37/00; F02M37/0047; F02M37/0052; F02M37/0058; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/49; F02D; F02D19/00; F02D19/06; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0649; F02D19/0657; F02D19/0663; F02D19/0684; F02D19/08; F02D19/081; F02M37/0064; F02B; F02B2201/00; F02B2201/06; F02B2201/062; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02D19/0665; F02D33/00; F02D33/003; F02D33/006; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/16; F02M37/0076; F02M37/0088; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A blending installation to supply fuel to an engine comprising: a closed-loop recirculation circuit for recirculating fuel and including a circulation pump in said loop for recirculating and mixing the fuel in said recirculation circuit totally independent of the operating state of said engine; a first source of fuel; a metering pump for delivering fuel from said first source to said recirculation circuit at a predetermined rate; a second source of fuel and delivery means for delivering fuel from said second source of fuel to said recirculation circuit at a variable rate which is dependent upon the operating state of the engine; said engine being separated from said recirculation circuit and having inlet means coupled to receive fuel from a first location along said recirculation circuit and having outlet means coupled to return unused fuel to said recirculation circuit at a second location along said recirculation circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A blending installation to supply fuel to an engine comprising: a closed-loop recirculation circuit for recirculating fuel and including a circulation pump in said loop for recirculating and mixing the fuel in said recirculation circuit totally independent of the operating state of said engine; a first source of fuel; a metering pump for delivering fuel from said first source to said recirculation circuit at a predetermined rate; a second source of fuel and delivery means for delivering fuel from said second source of fuel to said recirculation circuit at a variable rate which is dependent upon the operating state of the engine; said engine being separated from said recirculation circuit and having inlet means coupled to receive fuel from a first location along said recirculation circuit and having outlet means coupled to return unused fuel to said recirculation circuit at a second location along said recirculation circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said circulation pump is operative to recirculate fuel in said recirculation circuit totally independently of the operating state of said engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The blending installation of claim 1 further comprising heating means in said recirculation circuit for heating the fuel circulating in said recirculation circuit to a desired temperature level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The blending installation of claim 1 further comprising pressure reducing means in said recirculation circuit arranged between said first and second locations for creating a differential pressure therebetween sufficient to facilitate re-entry of fuel into said recirculation circuit from said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The blending installation of claim 4 wherein said second delivery means is coupled to said recirculation circuit at a point between said second location and said circulation pump.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said recirculation circuit includes heating means for heating fuel in said recirculation circuit to regulate fuel viscosity and pressure reducing means in said recirculation circuit for providing a differential pressure in said circuit to enhance the operation of said heating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said delivery means delivers fuel to said recirculation circuit from said second source of fuel by gravity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said first source of fuel contains diesel oil and said second source of fuel contains heavy oil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said recirculation circuit further includes filter means for filtering and removing impurities from the fuel circulating therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The blending installation of claim 4 wherein said pressure reducing means comprises a choke, said first and second locations being respectively upstream and downstream of said choke.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The blending installation of claim 1 further comprising a bypass line for coupling fuel from said first source of fuel to said engine inlet; normally closed valve means being opened responsive to failure of either of said pumps for coupling said first source of fuel to said inlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein the metering pump pumps fuel to a location in said recirculation circuit which is downstream of the circulation pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The blending installation of claim 1 wherein said recirculation circuit includes a mixer for admixing the fuels in said recirculation circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |